The Automated Enforcement System (AES) started operations on Sept 23, 2012 with 14 cameras. Within the first eight days, they captured 63,558 offences, or 567 per day for each camera.

At this rate, I calculated that 830 cameras would record 171,772,650 offences a year.

This April 15, the Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas) came into force using the same 14 AES cameras.

Within the first five days, 1,540 violations were recorded at four traffic lights, while 10 cameras captured 11,556 vehicles exceeding speed limits that range from 60kph to 110kph.

The Road Transport Department (RTD) has approved an additional seven cameras and any increase will be done gradually.

It was a far cry from a total of 831 cameras that were initially planned when Beta Tegap and Automated Traffic Enforcement System were granted concessions to operate the AES.

Following a huge public outcry, the AES was suspended and the two concessionaires compensated, with Irat Properties taking over AES operations.

In March 2015, a joint venture entity between Boustead and Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) purchased a 50 percent share in Irat Properties, with the other 50 percent owned by the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT).

In August that year, Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, deputy chairperson-cum-managing director of Boustead Holdings and also the chief executive of LTAT, announced that the AES is all set to be “rerolled out soon.”

Two months later, I wrote that thenew concessionaire was scheduled to reintroduce the AES inthe first quarter of 2016 covering 350 locations, but there was no roll out as planned.

Recently, there was much publicity in launching Awas, which is a combination of AES and the traffic offence demerit system (Kejara) managed by RTD.

Drivers who have accumulated excessive demerit points will have their driving licences suspended for no longer than six months initially and eventually revoked for repeat offenders.

Not integrated with traffic police system

But Awas is not integrated with the traffic police system and possibly 99 percent of all traffic summonses nationwide are issued by the police and not captured by AES cameras, which also could not detect the first offence listed under Kejara - Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs/intoxication.

As such, those caught by AES cameras will feel victimised, as they will pick up demerit points on top of paying compound fines for the summonses.

If the majority of motorists exceeded the 60kph speed limit at Kerian, Perak and 70kph at Putrajaya where AES cameras are located, the speed limit ought to be raised by 10kph.

If 1,540 violations were recorded at the four traffic lights because of the two-second rule, perhaps it should be raised to three or four seconds.

Some drivers can unexpectedly slow down when passing traffic lights junction and those following behind are held back and caught by the two-second rule.

If Awas is fairly implemented, it would receive the public’s buyin and support. It should not be just a remake of the AES and Kejara system, which was introduced in 1984 but remained in suspended animation until its recent revival.